Tesco Bengaluru overhauls policy; extends maternity leave to 22 weeks

MUMBAI: Tesco Bengaluru, the technology and retail operations team for Tesco worldwide, has recently overhauled its maternity leave policy.

The policy now stipulates maternity leave for women employees to paid leave of 22 weeks from the previous 12 weeks and an additional 1 month for illness arising out of pregnancy. In effect from November 1, 2016, the policy will also benefit all women employees who are currently on maternity leave.

The company's initiative to alter its existing policy is aimed at ensuring wellness for both mother and child, leading to a healthy and productive work environment.

Employees who have opted for alternative routes of motherhood like surrogacy and adoption will also benefit from this policy and can avail 22 weeks of paid maternity leave, among the first of its kind in the industry.

New mothers can also take an extended maternity leave (EML) that supports an additional 6 months unpaid leave over and above the maternity leave of 22 weeks.

Women employees can also take 6 weeks leave for miscarriage and medical termination of pregnancy and 2 weeks for a tubectomy. The paternity leave has also been extended from 5 to 10 days.

"When it comes to parenting, we want new parents to have the best possible care and feel fully supported, so that they can enjoy this significant phase of their lives. Not only does our augmented maternity and paternity leaves allow new parents to spend time at home, but also transition back to work in a more effective manner," Krity Sharma, Head - People, Tesco Bengaluru said in a release.

This apart, the organisation has remodelled its in-­house crèche facilities and tied up with external crèches for exclusive discounts as well.